Homelessness Support in the UK

Apply to your local council as soon as possible once you know you are at risk. You are legally considered threatened with homelessness if you are likely to lose your home within 56 days. This includes:

• Receiving a valid Section 21 or Section 8 eviction notice
• Being asked to leave by family or friends where you are staying
• Being in rent arrears that are likely to lead to eviction
• Fleeing domestic abuse or violence
• Your accommodation becoming uninhabitable (for example, due to fire, flood, or a severe disrepair hazard)

You do not need to wait until you have a court possession order or a bailiff's warrant. Applying early gives the council — and you — more time to explore options and prevents a crisis situation where emergency accommodation is the only option.

Under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, councils in England have the following duties:

• Duty to assess: Assess your housing situation and the circumstances that led to your homelessness risk within reasonable time of your application.
• Prevention Duty (56 days): Where you are threatened with homelessness within 56 days, the council must take reasonable steps to prevent you becoming homeless. This might include negotiating with your landlord, providing a rent deposit guarantee, or assisting with rehousing in the private sector.
• Relief Duty (56 days): Where prevention has failed and you are homeless, the council must take reasonable steps to help you secure suitable accommodation for at least 6 months.
• Main Housing Duty: If the council is satisfied you are homeless, in priority need, not intentionally homeless, and have a local connection, it must secure accommodation for you. Priority need includes households with dependent children, pregnant women, and people who are vulnerable due to a serious health problem, disability, or other special reason.

To make a homelessness application, contact your local council's housing department. In most councils you can do this in person, by phone, or online. Some councils have a 24-hour emergency line for urgent cases.

You will need to provide:

• Your name, contact details, and proof of identity
• Evidence of your current housing situation (tenancy agreement, notice, correspondence)
• Details of any dependent children living with you
• Information about any relevant health, disability, or vulnerability factors
• Evidence of your local connection to the area

The council must provide a written decision on your application. If you disagree with any decision — for example, that you are not in priority need — you have the right to request a review. Reviews must be completed within 8 weeks.

If you are homeless tonight and have no alternative, contact your local council immediately (councils have an emergency duty 24/7). If you are in priority need, the council must provide you with emergency accommodation while your application is assessed.

Emergency accommodation is typically in a bed and breakfast, hostel, or temporary flat. It is not your choice of accommodation but must be suitable for your household. For families with children, there are restrictions on the use of B&B accommodation (no more than 6 weeks as a maximum).

Other immediate options include:

• Shelter's emergency line: 0808 800 4444 (8am–8pm, 7 days)
• Street Link: 0300 500 0914 or streetlink.org.uk — for connecting people sleeping rough with local support
• Night shelter and outreach services: Available in most cities through local charities